Routing of MPTCP subflows

Abstract

A method performed in a source gateway logically positioned in a first wireless access network between a radio device and a first mobility anchor. The source gateway comprises an MTCP proxy for a TCP flow between the device and a peer comprising at least two subflows between the device and the source gateway, including a first subflow over the first network and a second subflow over a second wireless access network. The method comprises receiving uplink data of the second subflow from a second gateway logically positioned in the second network between the device and a second mobility anchor, sending downlink data of the second subflow to said second gateway, moving the proxy from the source gateway to a target gateway logically positioned in the first network between the device and the first mobility anchor, as part of a handover of the radio device, forwarding downlink data to the target gateway, and forwarding the received uplink data of the second subflow to the target gateway.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed in a source gateway which is logically positioned in a first wireless access network between a radio device and a first mobility anchor, said source gateway comprising a Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) proxy for a TCP flow between the radio device and a peer, said TCP flow comprising at least two subflows between the radio device and the source gateway, the subflows comprising a first subflow over the first wireless access network and a second subflow over a second wireless access network, the method comprising:
 receiving uplink data of the second subflow from a second gateway logically positioned in the second wireless access network between the radio device and a second mobility anchor, and sending downlink data of the second subflow to said second gateway; 
 moving the proxy from the source gateway to a target gateway logically positioned in the first wireless access network between the radio device and the first mobility anchor, as part of a handover of the radio device within the first wireless access network; and 
 after having moved the proxy to the target gateway, forwarding downlink data of both the first and second subflows to the target gateway, and forwarding the received uplink data of the second subflow to the target gateway. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless access network is a cellular communication network in accordance with a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communication standard. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the source gateway is comprised in a radio access network (RAN) node; or in a Core Network (CN) node. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless access network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the source gateway is comprised in a WLAN node; or a Trusted Wireless Access Gateway (TWAG) or an Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) as defined by 3GPP. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasing resources for the first subflow, whereby the forwarding of data of the first subflow is discontinued. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasing resources for the second subflow, whereby the forwarding of data of the second subflow is discontinued, after the source gateway no longer receives uplink data from the second gateway. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second mobility anchor is comprised in a PDN gateway (PGW). 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second mobility anchor is co-located with the first mobility anchor. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy acts as a Network Address Translator (NAT), whereby the TCP flow between the proxy and the peer uses an Internet Protocol(IP) address different from IP addresses used in either of the first and second subflows. 
     
     
       11. A source gateway configured for being logically positioned in a first wireless access network between a radio device and a first mobility anchor, and for comprising a Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) proxy for a TCP flow between the radio device and a peer, said TCP flow comprising at least two subflows between the radio device and the source gateway, the subflows comprising a first subflow over the first wireless access network and a second subflow over a second wireless access network, the source gateway comprising:
 processor circuitry; and 
 a storage unit storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said source gateway is operative to: 
 receive uplink data of the second subflow from a second gateway logically positioned in the second wireless access network between the radio device and a second mobility anchor, and send downlink data of the second subflow to said second gateway; 
 move the proxy from the source gateway to a target gateway logically positioned in the first wireless access network between the radio device and the first mobility anchor as part of a handover of the radio device within the first wireless access network; and 
 after having moved the proxy to the target gateway, forward downlink data of both the first and second subflows to the target gateway, and forward the received uplink data of the second subflow to the target gateway. 
 
     
     
       12. A first gateway configured for being logically positioned in a first wireless access network between a radio device and a first mobility anchor, and for comprising a Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) proxy for a TCP flow between the radio device and a peer, said TCP flow comprising at least two subflows between the radio device and the first gateway, the subflows comprising a first subflow over the first wireless access network and a second subflow over a second wireless access network, the first gateway comprising:
 processor circuitry; and 
 a storage unit storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said first gateway is operative to: 
 receive uplink data of the second subflow from a source gateway logically positioned in the second wireless access network between the radio device and a second mobility anchor, and send downlink data of the second subflow to said source gateway; 
 receive instructions to discontinue communication with the source gateway and to set up communication with a target gateway logically positioned in the second wireless access network between the radio device and the second mobility anchor as part of a handover of the radio device within the second wireless access network; and 
 after having received the instructions, receive uplink data of the second subflow from the target gateway, and send downlink data of the second subflow to said target gateway. 
 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable components for causing a source gateway to perform the method of  claim 1  when the computer-executable components are run on processor circuitry comprised in the source gateway.